Tsungremmong festival of Ao Naga was celebrated with much gaiety in Dimapur at Saku’s Mission College (SMC) auditorium, Dimapur organized by president BJP Dimapur district, L Bendang Ao on Monday.
Briefing the significance of the festival, additional director LRD (Retd), Moatoshi Longkumer said just like any other Naga tribe the “Ao tribe is an agrarian society whose life revolves around agriculture land and society”.
Moatoshi also mentioned that since time immemorial the Ao forefather have revered and worshipped gods and paid tribute to them in return for their blessings. As such, Ao forefathers celebrated two important festivals in a year, one was the Moatsu (sowing festival) in the month of May and the other Tsungremmong in the first week of August when the fields were ripe and ready for harvest, he added.
Moatoshi said that Tsungremmong was essentially a festival of thanks giving to god for abundant blessings in the field.
The essence of Tsungremmong is sanctification of the self and the society for obtaining blessings from god, said Moatoshi.
He briefed the gathering that it has a strong bearing on community building as the entire villagers come together to work and eventually share in the feast during the festival. Tsungremmong evolved as a festival where along with feastings, oral tradition and knowledge were passed down from one generation to the other through songs and dance and community life rekindled through sharing.
Short speeches were also delivered by president BJP state, Visasuolie Lhoungu and retired additional chief secretary, H.K.Khulu (IAS).
Earlier, the programme was chaired by Aotoshi Longkumer, while God’s blessing was invoked by vice president BJP state, Imsu Yaden. Welcome speech and introduction was delivered by president, BJP Dimapur district, L. Bendang Ao.
Vote of thanks was proposed by president, BJP Dimapur-II, Mandal, I Tongzuk Lemtur.